Britons captured in Iran: Luke Porter

Aged 21, Luke Porter has been sailing since the age of eight. His parents,
Charles and Beverly, run the Beachland Hotel near Weston Super Mare and live
in a nearby village.

Luke PorterPhoto: TOM GRUITT/PA

Nick Britten

8:45AM GMT 02 Dec 2009

Mr Porter has a twin sister called Jessica, a student at Bournemouth University, and a younger brother, Jack.

He attended the Churchill Community foundations school in Somerset, from where he moved directly into professional sailing. He is a yacht master and part of the UK Sailing Academy, and has previously sailed to the Caribbean.

He is said to have become firm friends with Oliver Young over the last few months as they worked on the Sail Bahrain project together. He lists his interests as surfing, sailing and rugby.

His father, Charles, said: “He was excited when he set out and it was the most exciting adventure, one of many adventures in recent years. He had a fabulous boat with a crew that he trusted very well.”